Point of facing snare head away from you?

[Siddh]

Like this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WgeX9iYOFSQ

Also, does the snare have to be at certain angle, or can you just put it at any angle you'd like, just as long as it's not so far away it feels awkward.

[Mediocrefunkybeat]

The snare can be at any angle. Extremes are usually best avoided, but for somebody playing traditional grip, there can be an advantage in tilting it away from you. I play traditional grip and play my snare either level or slightly tilted away. It can aid with the consistency of rimshots, but really it's for adjusting to the grip you're using.

[Michael G]

Back when marching and parade drumming was transitioning into the trap set, they just carried over the grip and tilted the snare to mimic what they have been used to. As times progressed, it gradually began leveling out and now people even tilt it the opposite way.

Having the drum tilted away and having it flat, doesn't give you any advantages, even rimshots are just as easy on a flat drum then a titled one. But, it gives you an entirely different feel, giving you different ideas and perspectives on how to play your snare. And generally, you don't want to tilt past what Buddy has in that video, although I can think of several occasions where an older drummer has it titled near vertical, makes it more difficult to play.

Though if you play matched, it might be better to not bother with titling the snare away from you.

[Siddh]

Nah, I play Traditional Grip. However, my snare stand is old (1964), and the top slightly rotates. Not that big of a deal, but it feels weird with the snare at the angle.

[drumbandit]

I just did it through copying Buddy Rich, and then grew a custom to the slant. Looks better too in my opinion.

Tom

[jeffwj]

I read somewhere where Buddy thought that that tilt worked with the body. Steve Smith had an article in Modern Drummer on this same subject a few years back. Maybe someone will know what issue it was in.

Jeff

[k3ng]

I first tried it after watching Buddy as well.

I've been experimenting with it all over the place. I play trad and after experimenting with alot more rimshots I've found the tilt does help. It also helps with my movement to the toms.

However, I've also found something that is working even better for me now. I tried this after watching a Jeff Hamilton clip. I've tilted my snare to the side. So now the head is semi-facing my ride cymbal. It's a really natural feel to it.

Experiment with the tilts and avoid putting too much angle and you'll be fine.

[goughy]

I think Weckl does the same thing, tilts it slightly to the side. I used to do this when trying traditional and didn't mind it.

[aydee]

It is used primarily to keep the angle of the snare perpendicular to the sticks held in a traditional grip. A few matched grip players prefer it too because it brings into play the edgier surfaces of the snare and rim for interesting textures & sounds

[Deathmetalconga]

I read somewhere where Buddy thought that that tilt worked with the body. Steve Smith had an article in Modern Drummer on this same subject a few years back. Maybe someone will know what issue it was in.

Jeff

There is something to that. I played with the snare tilted away for 15 years and I played matched grip. I only recently started playing with the snare level, just to try something different, and I am experiementing with traditional grip on my snare hand.

It seems more ergonomic to have the snare tilted away. If you angle it correctly, your snare will be tilted at the same angle as your forearms, so your snare head, wrists and forearms will all be on the same plane.

[ermghoti]

I normally play the snare quite high, almost belt level, angled a little towards me. The plane of the stick's path strikes nearly perpendicular to the head, rimshots are available by simply relaxing my wrist a little, plenty of room for a flashy rim-roll, and I only need to aim about an inch higher to get to the mounted toms. I'm sharing my kit right now, and the other guys can't play that high. I found it's faster to tilt the drum away from me than fiddle with the height, and the settings are more easily repeatable. I don't like it as well as my usual position, but I can see the appeal, same general theory.

[Vinnysimmo]

It seems more ergonomic to have the snare tilted away. If you angle it correctly, your snare will be tilted at the same angle as your forearms, so your snare head, wrists and forearms will all be on the same plane.

Exactly. Thats what i was gonna say, but i didn't know quite howw to explain it.